Graphically illustrated -- here is why the human species is in big trouble on this planet.
From the New Scientist web site (October 2008), are two sets of charts of graphs that demonstrate what we have been doing since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.
While the fanatic believers in endless growth will argue that the spike in human consumption is a sign of our superiority and 'progress', it is more evident by now to most thinking people that our consuming binge will have a very dramatic cost. Common sense, the experiences of our daily lives, tell us that as things run out, as things wear out, and that as items become scarcer and more expensive we get stressed and anxious. Economic, social and political upheaval will certainly result from our collective anxiety.
Sadly, though the reality of our situation can be seen in these graphs, we are still doing very little in immediate, consequential and substantive terms to reverse our journey to the edge of the cliff. Most people and their 'leaders' do not want to talk about overpopulation, or peak oil, or militarism ... they prefer to look hopefully to the technology 'god' to somehow extricate us from our problems just in the nick of time.
Seeking a softer landing for our descent means accepting more mundane, not very exciting, often controversial paths: buses instead of sleek, high speed trains; ending immigration into the United States; even more recycling; breaking up the mega-transnational corporations; demanding less variety of goods; staying home ... you get the idea. When technological fixes are taken off the table because we have run out of time, the necessary changes in our lifestyles will be more noticeable and seemingly more anachronistic, old fashioned.
We have a lot of bad habits to break, and time is running out.
Special Report: The Facts About Overconsumption | New Scientist
References and attributions for the charts found at the link.
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